Smartphone App: In today’s digital era, hundreds of apps are installed on everyone’s smartphone for games, social media, banking, shopping and even health tracking. But have you ever wondered whether all these apps are safe or not? Many times we download any app without checking it which can become a threat to our data and privacy. So let us know how the safety of the apps present in the phone can be checked.
Be careful of unknown apps
Often we download apps from some website or link which are not present on Google Play Store or Apple App Store. Such apps may contain viruses or malware that can steal personal data from your phone. Therefore, it is most important that you always download apps from trusted platforms only. If the source of any app is unknown then uninstall it immediately.
Be sure to check app permissions
While installing on the phone, apps ask for various permissions like access to camera, microphone, contacts or location. But all this is not necessary for every app. For example, why would a calculator app need your location or camera? Therefore, if an app is asking for more permissions without any reason then it may be suspicious.
how to check
- Android users can check the access of each app by going to Settings > Apps > Permissions.
- iPhone users can control app access by going to Settings > Privacy.
Scan with Google Play Protect
If you are an Android user, then Google Play Protect feature is already present in your phone which keeps scanning apps in the background.
method of testing
- Open Google Play Store.
- Tap the profile icon in the top right corner.
- Go to “Play Protect” and click on “Scan”.
- This will let you know whether any app in your phone is harmful or not.
View app reviews and downloads
Before downloading any app, definitely check its reviews and download count. If an app’s review repeatedly contains words like “adware,” “malware,” or “data theft,” avoid installing it. Also, apps with more downloads are generally more reliable.
Keep an eye on phone behavior
If your phone has suddenly become slow, the battery is draining quickly or excessive data is being consumed without any reason, then understand that there may be a glitch in some app. In such a situation, go to the App usage or Battery usage section of the phone and see which app is using resources abnormally.
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